Obama: Syria deal would be 'huge victory'

Sep. 27, 2013
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President Obama / Charles Dharapak, AP

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

President Obama hailed a proposed chemical weapons agreement with Syria on Friday, calling it a "'potentially huge victory for the international community."

Under a deal reached Thursday, a proposed United Nations resolution would require Syria to give up its chemical weapons stockpiles and allow inspectors access to all sites.

The proposal does not call for force, which would require a second resolution if Syria fails to comply.

Obama, speaking after a meeting with India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said there are still questions about Syria's follow-through, as well as the technical details of removing chemical weapons in the midst of Syria's civil war.

"Obviously, there's a lot of work to be done," he said.

In late August, Obama discussed the possibility of military action against Syria over an Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack on anti-government rebels. Obama later said he would seek U.S. congressional approval for a military strike.

As lawmakers and other nations opposed the idea of military action, Obama agreed to a proposal by Russia -- an ally of Syria -- to negotiate the removal of chemical weapons.

Obama said, "it's doubtful that we would have arrived at this point had it not been for a credible threat of U.S. action," but he added: "I've always expressed a preference for resolving this diplomatically."